Four years without residency puts these "doctors" in a similar boat as the above. Doctor of Recreation: Mostly an online program, I feel that if you read my posts, you have done more than a graduate in this field.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine: like chiropractor school, if you have an undergraduate degree and money, you're in. Doctor of Physical Education: what is this? You're going for the top P.
I remember hearing someone mention this degree a few years ago and was baffled by it. I've never met anyone who is a D. Doctor of Education: this is a real grab bag. I've met some brilliant Ed. Doctor of Social Work: social workers are some of the hardest working and least appreciated people on this planet. Nonetheless, getting a doctorate in social work isn't academically rigorous. What is the purpose of the doctorate beyond that of the master's?
Doctor of Ministry: if your pastor has one of these and insists on being called Dr. It's not a terminal degree nor does it involve academic rigor. It's purely a professional degree for the insecure needing another title.
Sociology: The upper echelon who is teaching at Ivy League schools is brilliant, but the run of the mill sociologist has less insight into sociology than I do. Psychology: The percentage of psychology Ph. Some of the most frivolous and wasteful research in the world is done for psychology thesis work.
Chiropractor: is this really much more than a glamorous associate's degree? Replies Options Top. Replies 0. Booyow Member since Mar posts. Did you write all that?? Replies 3. Get that out of your head. Research is about staring and thinking about a problem long enough then coming up with an answer which turns out to be completely wrong and in that, the process repeats until you get your "Eureka!
You should also stop worrying about others being ahead of you. There'll always be someone faster and better than you unless your name is John Von Neumann :- especially in academia. A good algebraic geometer from UGA by the name of Roy Smith didn't get his start in advanced mathematics until his late 20's, after working in industry as a meat lugger.
He received his PhD at Over 30 years later, he's still going strong. What you should learn from him is if passion calls for it, then there should be no stopping you. If you fail at a career, then that's that.
It's not the end of the world. But if you never bother to even try, then you'll never know and you'll always have a "What if? There are a few different things going on in this question, I'll try and address them separately.
First of all, heed JeffE's words about the impostor syndrome. The idea that some people are effortly geniuses which is inevitably followed by "but not me" is untrue and distinctly unhelpful. Moreover trying and failing a few or many! The important question you should ask yourself is if you enjoy the challenge of struggling against a problem; if so, then research would be a great fit.
As for your background, you seem to have a plan to address the gaps in your background, and if you're doing well in your master's programme, I wouldn't worry too much about being behind the other students.
Another challenge may be if you have a full-time job; doing a Ph. Anyway there's plenty of resources on this forum to help with this issue. Finally, as for the question in the title, I would say it depends the most on what you plan to do with your Ph. I'm a recent graduate in math from a well-known North American school, and the quality of the Ph. D's varied greatly.
I think it really depends on what you want to do with the degree. If getting a Ph. If one wants to be competitive in the academic research job market, the bar is quite a bit higher. As Austin Mohr, pointed out, it is unlikely a stranger on the net fully answer this for you, but what you are experiencing is similar to what I experienced, so I can tell you how it was from my perspective. Given what JeffE commented, studying through true 'grit', does involve 'brains' as you are developing and applying problem solving skills and stategies - which has clearly been effective, as you mention, you have good grades.
So, it seems you have developed effective study techniques. Point 2 is pretty much not an issue, based on the skills and strategies you developed in point 1.
If you do an unrelated thesis, as you mentioned in point 3 - look at this way, you'll be developing the research and synthesis skills needed for a PhD. What I found about the transition between the Masters and PhD, was that it wasn't so much of a leap, but a case of using the skills developed a lot more thoroughly.
From the sound of it, "grit not brain" will get you through your PhD courses. You likely will pass the "comprehensive" examination. And then the fear is that you will "freeze up" when it comes time to write the dissertation because you are behindhand in "natural" as opposed to synthetic , talent compared to others.
You will have to balance these real concerns against the benefits of "taking courses" and getting as far as you can, before possibly running up against a brick wall with your thesis.
This was basically my story some decades ago. I was "counseled out" of a PhD program by a dean who observed that I had the preparation and the brains for the program, but lacked the "spark," "thirst," or drive that would see others through, but maybe not me. What's worse, as a history undergraduate with mostly As, I had trouble finding a senior thesis topic, and spent the first part of my senior year wondering if I would be able to graduate, and thinking about writing a "trivial" paper that would earn a C.
In the middle of the first semester, I stumbled on a viable topic that earned me departmental honors.
I can see one of three outcomes for you. If this happens, you're fine. Rather obviously, it helps to be organised and to calendar your appointments carefully. And remember, it is better to do a few things well, than a number of things badly.
It sometimes seems like PhD students are expected to study all the time; to be in the office every weekend and to work late every day. But this is not sustainable; you also need time for hobbies, friends, and family in order to function at peak level. This may seem a really obvious point to make, and yet, many students still suffer from the effects of having an incredibly lop-sided schedule.
Students should always remember: making time for activities outside of the PhD is vital for long-term success. A healthy social life, regular exercise, and cultural activities will be stimulating, fun, and are likely to make you happier. Happiness is the end goal of everything; it should be valued. Some universities are better than others at supporting PhD students. The best universities have extensive programs for helping them, through mentoring, workshops, and social events, while at other universities students are left to fend for themselves.
Graduate schools can be helpful here, as they are geared towards meeting the specific needs of PhDs. Try to find out what kind of support is offered by your institution — there may be more than you think! Another challenge for PhD students is dealing with a lack of personal support. Friends, partners, and family members may not understand the worth of a PhD, and may not be supportive of the choice to pursue one.
Many a PhD student has been distressed by a well-meaning relative asking when they will be finished with their PhD and get a real job. This is another reason to get in contact with other PhD students, who can understand your stresses you are experiencing and give you the support you need.
Sharing these commonalities also helps to make light of them - 'God, my brother was asking again when I would In addition to worrying about their current projects, many PhD students feel concerned about their future too. In this uncertain job market , and academic jobs being intensely competitive, there is no guarantee that getting a PhD will lead to a desirable job we hope it will!
That said, research does show that having a PhD under your belt hugely increases your chances of not only getting a job, but also being paid better, and enjoying greater job satisfaction.
To help ensure you get to enjoy all of these benefits, it's sensible to start the job hunt early. Remember, too, all the transferable skills you develop during your PhD could also help you to get an industry job , if you feel you have had enough of academia. Finally, with a PhD typically taking at least three years at the very least , it's hard for anyone to maintain motivation throughout their whole project.
Feeling fed up, bored, or dissatisfied with one's project is a very common experience! When things are not going so well, and motivation is low, you should consider giving yourself a break. A few days, or even a week away from your project can sometimes be really helpful, allowing you to come back to your project invigorated and able to look at it from a fresh perspective. Maybe you see something that before you had missed? Or even better, maybe you realise that the work you've done is actually a whole lot better than you had previously thought.
THIS can be brilliantly motivating. Plus, you probably deserved a break anyway! Jobs Professor. PhD Candidate. Mid-Level Industry Position. Junior Industry Position. Other Jobs. All Jobs. Summer Schools. Online Courses. Professional Training. Supplementary Courses.
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